But Harry made no comment. He turned to Maddie.
“You're from the press?” he asked her. “Oh dear - I hope you're not going to be too harsh on me?”
Maddie looked shocked and hurt. “Not all journalists are out to knock, you know.”
“I think your magazine is splendid,” Harry answered sincerely.
“Well,” said Maddie. “It was once.” She looked at Jazz. “Its staff are certainly splendid, it's just the readers who've gone downhill. Present company excluded, of course,” she gushed.
Harry assured her that no offence had been taken.
Then he suddenly remembered something and looked at them both.
“Will you come inside and meet my family?” he invited them.
Jazz didn't know what to say.
“They'd love to meet you,” he went on. “You already know my sister Carrie, Jasmin. They're inside. It'll only take a minute.”
All helpful information, yet Jazz still didn't know what to say.
Maddie answered for her. “How wonderful,” she breathed and took Jazz's arm, pushing her back into the foyer.
There stood Carrie and their parents. People were walking round them, transfixed, nodding and smiling as if they were royalty. Jazz was fascinated. From the impression she had always got from the press and indeed from Gilbert, she believed Harry's parents to be highly principled, yet cold people who had never given him any affection. So she was very surprised when Harry's father hugged him and the two of them stood like that for a while. His father didn't say anything - he couldn't, he was too close to tears. When Harry bent down to embrace his mother, her grin almost split her face and tears ran happily down her cheeks. Carrie gave him a big hug and then smiled a shy yet proud smile over at Jazz. Jazz smiled back, ashamed that she'd never given Carrie a moment's thought.
“Mum, Dad, this is Jasmin Field, my Elizabeth Bennet.”
Both his parents pretended to know exactly who she was and smiled at her warmly, shaking her hand.
His mother actually took Jazz's hand in both of hers while she shook it. They must have been on an amazing high.
Jazz made some noises to indicate she thought that the fruit of their loins had done them proud and that she really ought to leave them to their evening. With that she said goodbye to Harry and walked Maddie out.
But Harry followed her. “Are you coming to the next rehearsal?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe and looking at Jazz intently. If there is a noise that accompanies the act of swooning, Maddie made it.
“Well,” said Jazz slowly. “As long as you don't mind the fact that I can't act.”
Harry's smile was so full of affection that Jazz momentarily missed the fact that he didn't contradict her.
“Now that the previews are over I can start coming back to them,” he said. “I thought we should concentrate on the last scene when Darcy proposes the second time, so it'll just be you, me and maybe Matt. Oh, and Carrie will come later to discuss costumes with you. She thought it would be a good time to get you alone. Perhaps we could all go for a drink afterwards?”
Jazz didn't think she'd ever heard Harry use such long sentences. She nodded. “Lovely,” she said softly.
And they both separated.
“So that's the "bastard", Harry Noble?” Maddie said dreamily. “Jasmin, he is gorgeous. He is a god. He's so tall. And broad. And those eyes. The man has teeth that were made in heaven.” She started an impression of The Wicked Witch of the West. “I'm melting, I'm melting . . .”
Usually Jazz would have found this highly amusing, but tonight she wasn't listening.
“I can't believe you made me go,” she said, almost in tears. “It's all your fault, Maddie.”
Maddie stopped and frowned. “What did I do wrong?” she asked incredulously. “He was delighted to see you.”
Jazz shook her head as if trying to get something out of her brain. “He's just trying to prove me wrong,” she said despairingly. “He's laughing on the other side of his face.”
“Well, it's a drop-dead gorgeous face, whatever side it's being laughed on,” said Maddie. She wanted to ask Jazz if she was blind as well as stupid, but realised Jazz was in no mood to be criticised. She decided instead to discuss Harry's merits, rather than Jazz's shortcomings, but stopped after half a minute, when she realised Jazz was not only not listening, but was in some sort of private hell.
Chapter 23
Jazz arrived early at the next rehearsal. She was always early when she was nervous. She paced in the church hall going over her lines. It was going to be excruciating having to say these apologetic, romantic things to Harry — but not as excruciating as hearing his replies. She wanted to apologise about what she'd said that night when he'd tried to ... and yet now she was so much less rational about it all, so much more hurt by his insults than she had been then. It felt like yean ago now. Yet she remembered it as vividly as if it was yesterday.
She jumped when her mobile rang.
“Hello, Jasmin Field,” she answered, her voice echoing in the hall.
It was George.
“Jazz, terrible news,” said George.
“What?” Jazz thought her heart had stopped. She'd always dreaded this. Which parent had had a heart attack?
“Are you sitting down?” asked George.
“No,” said Jazz.
“Well, sit down,” said George firmly.
“JUST TELL ME THE NEWS!,” shouted Jazz, terrified.
“Michael and Josie are separating,” George said in a rush.
Jazz gasped. How come? They were happily married! What about Ben? What about the unborn baby? How was Josie?
“It gets worse,” said George.
“Go on,” whispered Jazz.
“Josie shagged William Whitby at the party.”
Jazz gasped and collapsed on the chair. William Whitby! Of all the people to choose. And she'd introduced them.
“It gets worse,” said George.
“How?” said Jazz, dizzy with shock.
“Are you sitting dow—”
“YES. Just tell me the news,” shouted Jazz impatiently.
There was a long pause.
“Gilbert Valentine caught them at it - they were in the toilet together, can you believe it? — and is threatening to go to the tabloids with it. It would make him a fortune, Jazz - and put his career back on track. He might even get a regular slot.”
Jazz was in fighting spirit. “It's not big enough for the tabloids—”
“Yes, it is,” interrupted George evenly. “Wills is famous, you've made Josie a household name for being so happily married and - and - well . . .”
“What?”
“Well, we shouldn't forget that you've got enemies in high places.”
Oh Christ, Sharon Westfield. That bitch would be only too delighted to shop her whole family. And Gilbert knew all about her involvement with that woman, since she had been foolish enough to discuss it with Mo while he was there. He even knew what she really thought of the Daily Echo.
He'd given her advice, for Christ's sake! And all the time he'd probably had Sharon's direct line. The Wacko hacks already knew where her parents and sisters lived and what they looked like. Jazz went numb with horror. A scandal like this would be a dream come true for their circulation.
George took this moment to say: “I'm afraid it gets even worse.”
Jazz moaned.
“He also shagged Kitty Bennet at the rehearsal. So as far as the Daily Echo would be concerned, Josie was officially involved in a sex romp.”
Jazz could hear whistling in her ears.
“I'm on my way to Mum and Dad's now,” said George. “Do you want me to pick you up?”
Jazz whispered yes and switched off her mobile. She put her script back into her bag and started running towards the door. As she did so, it opened and there stood Harry Noble.